Aerodynamics is the study of the motion of air and how it affects objects. Aerodynamic engineers in the field of aerospace work on designing airplanes and rocket ships that are efficient and high tech. Understanding how air travels around and through objects (often called an air-flow field) allows for the examining of forces and moments acting on the object. Aerospace engineers work on big projects for multi-billion-dollar companies. Some of the biggest aerospace companies in the United States, according to Forbes magazine, include: Boeing, General Dynamics, Goodrich, Lockheed Martin, Moog, Precision Castparts, Raytheon, Rockwell Collins, and Teledyne Technologies.
Many aerodynamic engineering opportunities are found in military aerospace or the government sector. The job being connected to the military doesn’t necessarily mean that employees have to be enlisted in the armed services. They may be civilians, but because of government confidentiality, they may be required to obtain certain security clearances.
Reach for the stars. Rise to the top.
The aerospace director is the head-honcho; the person in charge of all of the aerospace (and other) engineers employed by their company. The aerospace director leads the team in the desired direction, as per the goals set by company he or she works for. The aerospace director reports to the chief executives of the company.
Make a salary big enough to buy your dream house on the moon.
The people working as aerospace directors in the aerospace industry are smart. It takes some brains to be able to apply the dynamics of aerodynamic principles to a multi-million-dollar (sometimes multi-billion-dollar) aircraft. If you were the pilot of one of those high-tech aircrafts, you’d want to be sure that someone with intelligence had your back when they designed the airplane you’re about to fly 40,000 feet high in the sky.
The aerospace director needs to have a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD in some sort of aerodynamic, aeronautical or mechanical engineering field. Companies are looking for their directors to have experience as well as education. Make that 15-plus years of related experience in business development. Having a background in military aerospace systems is a bonus, too. More experience will get a higher-level job with a bigger title and more responsibilities.
Here’s an example of the directors of Honeywell Aerospace salaries: $193,000–$208,000 per year. That’s enough to buy your own slice of the moon!
Of course, there are many factors that come into play with salaries, such as location and region of the job, company size, industry, company’s annual revenue, sales and profit, and the person’s own background and experience.
3 . . . 2 . . .1 . . . Blast Off.
So, to blast off into a career as an aerospace director in the aerospace industry it takes smarts, a good education (a bachelor’s degree or higher), and a drive to work in a fast-paced, high-tech industry. Take the right steps and get ready to watch your aerospace career take flight.
